Jacksen F. Tiago is one of the biggest characters in Indonesia football.

As a strong, free-scoring striker, he won the League with Persebaya in 1997 and, after retiring, coached the same team to same honour six years later.

Since then, Tiago has led Mitra Kukar, Persipura Jayapura and had a spell in charge of the Indonesian national team. He is currently coaching Barito Putera, a small club who have been among the front-runners in GO-JEK Liga 1 during the first half of the campaign.

Speaking during the break for Ramadan, Tiago talked about his career as a player and on the sidelines. He also discussed his potential solutions to the problems in Indonesia football, the special reasons he has stayed so long in this country, the importance of intelligent players, WhatsApp and his attacking philosophies.

I spoke to him in the break in the GO-JEK Liga 1 season for Ramadan. He had led Persipura Jayapura into contention for the title. However, a few weeks after this interview, Butler would part ways with the club.

As you would expect, the Yorkshireman has strong views on the sport in Africa and Asia. But he also talks with passion and perspective on the English game.

Kim Kurniawan has had a tough road to success as a professional footballer.

The midfielder suffered a couple of career-threatening injuries and had to travel thousands miles away from the country of his birth. However he has battled back to become a crucial part of the squad at Persib Bandung

Right now, he is recovering from a broken leg but he spoke to Football Indonesia about football, life and, of course, Persib Bandung.

One of the most eye-catching pre-season signings has been Mita Kukar’s capture of Danny Guthrie. The midfielder has extensive experience in the Premier League and The Championship in England. He rose through the ranks at Liverpool then for a host of other clubs, notably Newcastle, Reading and Blackburn.

But what made Guthrie swap Ewood Park to East Kalimantan? How has he found the transition and what does he want to achieve in Indonesia?

He comes from Jakarta but received his education in the game in England, Spain and Belgium with the likes of Manchester United, Espanyol and Malaga. In 2017 he returned back home to spend his first full season playing in Indonesia.

But it was far from plain-sailing.

In this podcast he talks about his injury-hit time with Persija Jakarta last term, education abroad, Manchester United, his tech start-up, his religion, dealing with criticism on social media, moving positions and where he might play his football next season.